A/N: So… I've been working on this for a few months on and off, but I hadn't really decided whether or not I actually wanted to post, but tada! I'm not proud of it, but I hope you enjoy! Let me know if I should continue this or scrap it.
"Alright, Mommy!" Tamaki called out behind him as he walked out of the host club, backpack in hand and a stupid grin across his face. "I'll see you tomorrow!" He chuckled when a sigh echoed through the almost empty room.
"Whatever, Tamaki." The smooth tenor of Kyoya's voice returned the message. "Tomorrow it is." He watched as the blond left the room, turning back to his laptop when the door shut.
He hadn't seen the grin fall off the peach colored lips of his so-called other half as a look of deep sorrow wedged itself into the previously happy male's face. Tamaki made his way to a shiny red mustang in the school parking lot, unlocking and opening the driver side door to throw his bookbag into the passenger seat and sit down. He rolled up his sleeves and exposed the gashes on his arms, evidence of mental abuse. Tears welled up into his eyes as he remembered what his grandmother said to him before he left for Ouran High that morning…
"Grand-mère, is that all?" Tamaki took off his apron, folding and gently placing it in the open drawer next to him, grabbing a fresh muffin out of the pan he'd just made. "I have to set out for school in a few minutes." A gruff voice answered him from the next room.
"Why bother?! You'll always be stupid and ignorant, why bother going and wasting some poor teacher's time when they could be helping someone with actual talent? You worthless idiot!"
Tamaki just forced a smile as he entered the living room and handed the muffin to the stout old woman in the purple armchair by the door. "Well, I'm required by law to get an education. I'll see you when I get home, Grand-mère." He got to the stairs before the tears started falling.
Now, in the car, the tears rolled down the desolate face as Tamaki's shoulders heaved with sobs. He covered his mouth with his hands, putting his head down on his arms as he cried.
A curt knock on the window drew the boy's attention from his self pity to the presence of another person. Tamaki's eyes widened and he wiped away the shed tears when he noticed Kyoya staring in at him. He attempted to discreetly roll down his sleeves to hide the cuts from the view of his friend while opening the door.
He failed.
"Tamaki, what the hell happened to your arms?!" Kyoya grabbed Tamaki's hand gently and pushed the sleeves back. "Why would you do this to yourself?" Obsidian pools met with glazed over violet orbs. Tamaki pulled away and forced a smile.
"Don't worry about it, Kyoya. I'm fine! I promise." Tamaki tried his best to quell his tears, but a few slipped by. Kyoya sighed and shut the door, walking around the hood of the car to the passenger side, opening the door and sitting down next to the blond.
"Did you… cut yourself?" Kyoya's eyes shone with concern. "And you're not okay, you're crying. What happened? Has she really gotten that bad?" Tamaki nodded and leaned over the center console to sob into Kyoya's chest. He felt something inside him break. "Hey, hey… It's going to be okay, Tamaki. Do you want to stay at my place tonight?" Another nod. "Then I'll need you to move so I can drive."
"Okay."
Kyoya got out of the seat and jogged around the front of the mustang to the driver's side while Tamaki climbed over the center console. He slammed the door and sighed, smiling tiredly at his best friend.
"Buckle up."
"Okay."